405 Comments

General Commenti know what this song means, cuz i read a quote exactly from him. here's the quote so u understand the song- "Basically, I was trying to write a song that supported women and dealt with the issue of rape. Over the last few years, people have had such a hard time understanding what our message is, what we're trying to convey, that I just decided to be as bold as possible. How hard should I stamp this point? How big should I make the letters? It's not a pretty image. But a woman who is being raped, who is infuriated with the situation . . . it's like "Go ahead, rape me, just go for it, because you're gonna get it." I'm a firm believer in karma, and that motherfucker is going to get what he deserves, eventually. That man will be caught, he'll go to jail, and he'll be raped. So rape me, do it, get it over with. Because you're gonna get it worse."

While I'm inclined to agree that Cobain is serious in the interview you are citing it is important to note that Cobain is known to lie about the meanings of his songs. Cobain also claimed in an interview that Heart-Shaped Box is a song about children with cancer. Interestingly, Cobain has also admitted that some of his lyrics are intentionally non-nonsensical. The technique of randomization adds a sense of powerful (albeit non-existent) symbolism and psychedelia that made a literary "giant" out of author William Burroughs (who incidentally Cobain collaborates with on "The Priest They Called Him".

@wild_horses724 I think this explanation is accurate. KC was earnest to a fault about feminism. He spoke at length about this song and in relation to others on multiple occasions, as opposed to just brushing off the question with a stack remark someone might be happy enough with if they are stupid enough.

My Interpretationto me this song is written in a sort of sarcastic way.. very blunt. cobain said that it was actually an anti-rape song. he also said "It's like she's saying, 'Rape me, go ahead, rape me, beat me. You'll never kill me. I'll survive this and I'm gonna fucking rape you one of these days and you won't even know it.''

Song MeaningA quote from an interview in 1993:
"You're very concerned about sexism. I like that; that's good. So how do you make people aware of that problem?"
"By writing songs as blunt as 'Rape Me.' Having to resort to doing something like that is almost embarrassing because people didn't understand when we wrote about a song like 'About a Girl' or 'Polly,' and having to explain that and having misunderstandings about it, I decided to write 'Rape Me' in a way that was so blunt and obvious that no one could deny it; no one could read into it any other way, although some people have."

Song MeaningI was watching a video on youtube, and he was talking about the song meaning for this song. He said that this song was an anti-rape message. He was tired of people asking him what his songs meant but it's pointless because he made no sense. He once said melody first, lyrics second.

General CommentThe way I see it..
A Idea about someone who realized a freind is Using them, but figuring out they like being used, so he says do it some more, We all use people, and we are all being used.

Meh, it could be put that way I guess. But that's not the only thing. This song is about actual rape as well. Kurt himself once said that it's anti-rape, and that the protagonist is saying "Go ahead, rape me, beat me as much as you like, but you'll never get rid of me, cos I'm gonna rape you one day and you won't even know it."

i agree....its most probably bout the way the press just took every aspect of his personal and made it news.he didnt have any privacy.fr a man who didnt like all the attention.it felt like being raped.and the anti rape song u r talkin bout is mostly polly not this one .listen to the lyrics of polly.

@higginite22 Kurt himself said in many interviews thar this song has nothing to do with the press, critics or paparazzi! It is about what the top comment stated, about giving power to women who have gone through this!

General CommentWell, I dunno, this is just what I thought, but it's just that the strumming pattern of the central riff is basically Smells Like Teen Spirit. Since Kurt seemed to dislike the fact that that song was so popular and no one listened to a lot of their better stuff, I wonder if he's saying something about being artistically 'raped' by listeners demanding the next 'teen spirit'.

Yeah this was on In Utero, this is actually a pretty legit theory, Cobain said it was about anti-rape (Appreciate your concern, you're gonna stink and burn), and a metaphor to how the media was invading him and his privacy. But maybe there are more parts he just kept secret.

Yeah this was on In Utero, this is actually a pretty legit theory, Cobain said it was about anti-rape (Appreciate your concern, you're gonna stink and burn), and a metaphor to how the media was invading him and his privacy. But maybe there are more parts he just kept secret.

General CommentHell NO they aren't OVER-RATED. If anything, they are UNDER-RATED. Kurt had talent, this band was the best thing to happen to music during the time they came out. And this song happens to be one of my favorite Nirvana songs. It's a shame Kurt bit the dust... if he were still here, he would be making his amazing music for all to hear.

I think this song is mis-interpreted. Who knows what Kurt was saying with it? Frankly, who cares? You can make it whatever you want it to be... just listen to the words.

If Kurt had a meaning for it, maybe you should go search the internet for it or read a book on him. Every song has a meaning&every meaning is different to everyone.

Kurt had talent but the remainder of the band has much less. We saw the same pattern of limitation with the Gin Blossoms. Both Kurt of Nirvana and Doug of the Gin Blossoms were forced to write music reflecting the musical limitations of their band members. It's difficult to imagine how frustrating such a situation must feel especially when the band's source of brilliance becomes a pariah for personality problems and drug/alcohol abuse.